Old/New Testament
Why Proverbs Is Important
1 These are the wise words of Solomon son of David. Solomon was king of Israel.
2 They teach wisdom and self-control.
They give understanding.
3 They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled.
They will teach you what is honest and fair and right.
4 They give the ability to think to those with little knowledge.
They give knowledge and good sense to the young.
5 Wise people should also listen to them and learn even more.
Even they can find good advice in these words.
6 Then they will be able to understand wise words and stories.
They will understand the words of wise men and their riddles.
7 Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord.
But foolish people hate wisdom and discipline.
Warnings Against Evil
8 My child, listen to your father’s teaching.
And do not forget your mother’s advice.
9 Their teaching will beautify your life.
It will be like flowers in your hair or a chain around your neck.
10 My child, sinners will try to lead you into sin.
But do not follow them.
11 They might say, “Come with us.
Let’s ambush and kill someone.
Let’s attack some harmless person just for fun.
12 Let’s swallow them alive, as death does.
Let’s swallow them whole, as the grave does.
13 We will take all kinds of valuable things.
We will fill our houses with what we steal.
14 Come join us,
and we will share with you what we steal.”
15 My child, do not go along with them.
Do not do what they do.
16 They run to do evil.
They are quick to kill.
17 It is useless to spread out a net
right where the birds can see it!
18 These men are setting their own trap.
They will only catch themselves!
19 All greedy people end up this way.
Greed takes away the life of the greedy person.
Wisdom Speaks
20 Wisdom is like a good woman who shouts in the street.
She raises her voice in the city squares.
21 She cries out in the noisy street.
She makes her speech at the city gates:
22 “You foolish people! How long do you want to stay foolish?
How long will you make fun of wisdom?
How long will you hate knowledge?
23 Listen when I correct you.
I will tell you what’s in my heart.
I will tell you what I am thinking.
24 I called, but you refused to listen.
I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.
25 You did not follow my advice.
You did not want me to correct you.
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble.
I will make fun when disaster happens to you.
27 Disaster will come over you like a storm.
Trouble will strike you like a whirlwind.
Pain and trouble will overwhelm you.
28 “Then you will call out to me.
But I will not answer.
You will look for me.
But you will not find me.
29 You rejected knowledge.
You did not choose to respect the Lord.
30 You did not accept my advice.
You rejected my correction.
31 So you will get what you deserve.
You will get what you planned for others.
32 Fools wander away and get killed.
They are destroyed because they do not care.
33 But those who listen to me will live in safety.
They will be safe, without fear of being hurt.”
Rewards of Wisdom
2 My child, believe what I say.
And remember what I command you.
2 Listen to wisdom.
Try with all your heart to gain understanding.
3 Cry out for wisdom.
Beg for understanding.
4 Search for it as you would for silver.
Hunt for it like hidden treasure.
5 Then you will understand what it means to respect the Lord.
Then you will begin to know God.
6 Only the Lord gives wisdom.
Knowledge and understanding come from him.
7 He stores up wisdom for those who are honest.
Like a shield he protects those who are innocent.
8 He guards those who are fair to others.
He protects those who are loyal to him.
9 Then you will understand what is honest and fair and right.
You will understand what is good to do.
10 You will have wisdom in your heart.
And knowledge will be pleasing to you.
11 Good sense will protect you.
Understanding will guard you.
12 It will keep you from doing evil.
It will save you from people whose words are bad.
13 Such people do not do what is right.
They do what is evil.
14 They enjoy doing wrong.
They are happy to do what is crooked and evil.
15 What they do is wrong.
Their ways are dishonest.
16 It will save you from the unfaithful wife
who tries to lead you into adultery with pleasing words.
17 Such women leave the husbands they married when they were young.
They forget the promise they made before God.
18 If you go to her house, you are on your way to death.
What she does leads to death.
19 No one who goes to her comes back.
He will not continue to live.
20 But wisdom will help you be a good person.
It will help you do what is right.
21 Those who are honest will stay in the land.
Those who are innocent will remain in it.
22 But evil people will be removed from the land.
The unfaithful will be thrown out of it.
The Gift for Other Believers
16 Now I will write about the collection of money for God’s people. Do the same thing that I told the Galatian churches to do: 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should put aside as much money as you can from what you are blessed with. You should save it up, so that you will not have to collect money after I come. 3 When I arrive, I will send some men to take your gift to Jerusalem. These will be men who you all agree should go. I will send them with letters of introduction. 4 If it seems good for me to go also, these men will go along with me.
Paul’s Plans
5 I plan to go through Macedonia. So I will come to you after I go through there. 6 Maybe I will stay with you for a time. I might even stay all winter. Then you can help me on my trip, wherever I go. 7 I do not want to come to see you now, because I would have to leave to go other places. I hope to stay a longer time with you if the Lord allows it. 8 But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 I will stay, because a good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given to me now. And there are many people working against me.
10 Timothy might come to you. Try to make him feel comfortable with you. He is working for the Lord just as I am. 11 So none of you should refuse to accept Timothy. Help him on his trip in peace, so that he can come back to me. I am expecting him to come back with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. But he was sure that he did not want to go now. But when he has the opportunity, he will go to you.
Paul Ends His Letter
13 Be careful. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that the family of Stephanas were the first believers in Southern Greece. They have given themselves to the service of God’s people. I ask you, brothers, 16 to follow the leading of people like these and anyone else who works and serves with them.
17 I am happy that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come. You are not here, but they have filled your place. 18 They have given rest to my spirit and to yours. You should recognize the value of men like these.
19 The churches in the country of Asia send greetings to you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you in the Lord. Also the church that meets in their house greets you. 20 All the brothers here send greetings. Give each other a holy kiss when you meet.
21 I am Paul, and I am writing this greeting with my own hand.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, then let him be separated from God—lost forever!
Come, O Lord!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.